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First A350ULR aircraft to begin flight testing
March 2nd 2018
The first A350 Ultra-Long-Range (ULR) variant has left the Airbus final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse. Read More »
The aircraft will now start its flight testing programme and is scheduled to be delivered to launch operator, Singapore Airlines (SIA), “later this year”.
With a range of 9,700nm, Airbus claims the A350ULR “will be able to fly further than any other commercial airliner”. That additional range is the result of a modified fuel system, capable of carrying 24,000 extra litres, as well as aerodynamic improvements, including extended winglets.
Until now, only SIA has placed orders for the variant. The airline will deploy seven of the type in a high-premium seating configuration on nonstop flights from Singapore to New York and Los Angeles.
The Singapore legacy carrier used to operate three A340-500s on those routes, but terminated those services in 2013 owing to high operating costs.
